Confirmed: El Al Will Launch Chicago-Tel Aviv Nonstop Service In March 2020

Update: El Al has now confirmed that they will begin nonstop service between Chicago and Tel Aviv with 3 weekly flights starting in March 2020.

The Chicago Tribune reports that El Al plans to “use a 235-seat Boeing 787 for the flights.” Given that El Al’s 787-9 has 282 seats, I’d presume that means the flight will be operated by a smaller 787-8. If the Tribune’s numbers are accurate, that means that El Al’s seating configuration will be more dense than American’s 787-8 (226 seats) and United’s 787-8 (219 seats).

El Al doesn’t yet have any 787-8s, but they are slated to operate 4 of them.

That’s great news for Chicagoland travelers. It would only become greater if United decides to battle El Al on that route, as I strongly suspect that they will, pending the results of their new service between Washington DC and Tel Aviv that begins this May.

In the midst of record profits on flights to Tel Aviv, the rumor mill also has American reconsidering its decision to pull its Philadelphia-Tel Aviv service.

There will be 95 weekly flights between North America and Tel Aviv during peak summer season, which appears to be a new record:

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32 Comments On "Confirmed: El Al Will Launch Chicago-Tel Aviv Nonstop Service In March 2020"

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Jake

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although, I wish it was United. Elal is too expensive, and you can’t buy E-vouchers for cheap.

Reply

February 28, 2019 9:30 am

Dan

I think this will likely force United to compete on this route. We shall see…

Reply

February 28, 2019 9:36 am

ORDtoTLV

@ Dan
I think United will wait and see both how El Al does in San Francisco and`next year in Chicago before starting flights out of Chicago ORD. El Al San Francisco passengers in Coach will be served a little more fancier meal than on other routes.
Miami is getting a 4th weekly flight starting October 27
Orlando schedule is just for 1 month July 9-August 27
I hear the El Al Boston flights are not full.
Do you have a list of flights to TLV from Europe, Asia?

Reply

March 1, 2019 5:11 pm

Ua

What’s a e-voucher?

Reply

February 28, 2019 9:37 am

Miri

United is cheaper than elal??? Really???

Reply

February 28, 2019 9:44 am

Chaim

Of course it is! And you get to sit in your assigned seat 😉

Reply

February 28, 2019 2:12 pm

R

Only true in Coach. LY is cheaper in business due to poorer product

Reply

February 28, 2019 5:39 pm

Chaim

Most of here follow DDs because we can’t afford business class. We simply look for the cheapest way to travel

Reply

March 1, 2019 12:22 pm

TGIShabbos

How do you know, Chaim?

Reply

March 1, 2019 1:45 pm

Danfan

anyone cheap enough to look on this website only buys economy – although if u have saved up miles sometimes they fly business for free…

Reply

March 19, 2019 4:37 pm

united

I flew to TLV a couple months ago, before United offered premium economy. Paid for extra legroom, and reserved seats in the first 3 rows, which Dan wrote that there was a good chance they would be the larger seats as they were preparing the planes for prem eco. When we checked in, we found out that they changed our seats a few rows back, and we did not get to sit in those bigger seats. Turned out best for us bec the first 3 rows were completely full, and we got an empty seat next to us. But United did tell us that you are never guaranteed a specific seat and they can always change it…

Reply

March 19, 2019 4:31 pm

Shelly

Where do you get the “cheap E-vouchers” you mentioned?

Reply

March 19, 2019 4:29 pm

Mike Ditka!

Nice! You’ve been predicting this for a while. Go Bears!

Reply

February 28, 2019 9:31 am

Chaim

It’s about time!

Reply

February 28, 2019 9:34 am

Gaby

@Dan approximately how many seats would those 95 flights be?
Ballpark figure is fine lol

I think its best if American just becomes a partner of elal with full partner benifts that will be a big win for aa

Reply

February 28, 2019 11:45 am

TGIShabbos

Great news for Chicago (and regional) residents whom have waited a long time for this. United and American claim ORD as a hub, so I’d be curious to see if especially American would consider jumping into it (probably doubtful, as Dan pointed out regarding their foolish decision to not play in PHL). I agree with several others that ElAl’s Orlando and Las Vegas will be short lived; and see no reason why United’s IAD will succeed if 1. EWR already succeeds as a connecting and originating airport to TLV 2. IAD is rather far from Baltimore and the northern DC suburbs (even so, with a smaller Jewish market than Chicago) (at the time of posting, according to Google Maps, Baltimore to IAD is 67 miles and 93 minutes driving) 3. IAD is a lackluster airport, with practically stagnant passenger growth over 15 years, according to Wikipedia. Jetblue and Southwest have been shrinking their capacities there. Great posting Dan!

Reply

February 28, 2019 12:12 pm

Shaul

When is elal phasing out the 747 to/from JFK? I thought it was supposed to be this past fall.

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